Allogeneic Anti-CD5-CAR-IL-15-iC9-transduced CB-derived NK Cells

**Semantic type:** Cell|Pharmacologic Substance

**Definition:** A preparation of allogeneic umbilical cord blood (CB)-derived natural killer cells (NKs) that have been engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) specific for the tumor-associated antigen (TAA) CD5 and the pro-survival cytokine interleukin-15 (IL-15), and containing the suicide gene, inducible caspase 9 (iCasp9 or iC9), with potential immunostimulating and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, allogeneic anti-CD5-CAR-IL-15-iC9 transduced CB-derived NK cells target, bind to and induce selective cytotoxicity in CD5-expressing tumor cells. IL-15 promotes persistence of multiple lymphocyte lineages and potentiates CD8+ T and NK cell activation and increases the immune response against tumor cells. CD5, a T-cell associated antigen, is expressed in many T-cell lymphomas and leukemias. The iCasp9 safety switch consists of a full-length caspase 9, including its caspase recruitment domain, linked to a human FK506 drug-binding domain with an F36V mutation (FKBP12-F36V). If the administered NK cells lead to unacceptable side effects, a homodimerizer can be administered, which binds to the FKBP12-F36V drug-binding domain, activates caspase 9 and results in apoptosis of the administered NK cells.

**Synonyms:** - Allogeneic Anti-CD5-CAR-IL-15-iC9-transduced CB-derived NKs - Allogeneic Anti-CD5-CAR-IL-15-iC9-transduced CB-derived Natural Killer Cells - Allogeneic Anti-CD5-CAR/IL-15/iC9-tranduced NK Cells - Anti-CD5 CAR Engineered IL15-transduced Cord Blood-derived NK Cells